Freight-handling apparatus



Feb. 17, 1931. .1. F. M GINNESS ET AL FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1929 a a a v U m 1 5 5 Z 2. 7w 6 2% H K 4 M a M u a INVENTORS James F. a "64111765 ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1931. v J. F. MQGINNESS ET AL 1,793,332

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1929 k s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WITNESSES James ['1 .if 'gzzzzcss ATTORNEYS Feb. 17 1931. J. F. M GlNNEss ET AL 1,793,332 FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATU S I I Filed Oct. 3, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Zw w . v ATTORNEY 9% WITNESSES i operating shaft 20 will provide for rotation of the corner posts 16.

Supported by and movable over each pair of corner posts, there is provided a track supporting plate 22, which includes internally threaded collars 23 through which the posts 16 extend, whereby rotation of the posts in response to the rotation of the operating shaft 20 will vertically move the track plate 22. Mountediuponthe track plate 22, there is provided a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced rollers 24, between which there is -mounted a freely slidable track member 25.,

The track member includes a flange receivable between the rollers 24 and'an inwardly extending flange which terminates in a vertical track upon which rollers 26' of the container 27 aremountecl.

c The container 27 includes the centrally positioned horizontally spaced rollers 26 associated with each end;wall thereof. The container 27 is preferably a completelysealed container unit,by the use of which a complete sidewall and top .for the vehicle are notre;

quired. In some instances, however, the container may take the form of a simple shipping crate, and, if desired, may be used in conj unction with thesubstantially open vehicle here shownJor in conjunction with a completely container may be packed and positioned ona delivery platform. The vehicle is then moved parallel with the container and by. rotation of theoperating shaft 20,- the corner posts 16 Will'be rotated whereby thetrackcarrying platewill move downwardly'in response to itsthreaded connection with the corner posts. 1

When the desired downward movement of the track plate is accomplished, the tracks are moved outwardly to be positioned'underthe rollers 26 "of the. container. Reverse rotation of theoperating shaft-20then moves-up wardly the track-carrying plate and the tracks to engage the rollers and lift thecontainer. With the container in lifted position, it may be readily rolled upon thegtrack until one of the rollers 26 strikes the inner stop 29.0f the track shown in Fig. 3. Furtl1er 1nove- {ment of the container within the body will the vehicle, in which posit-ion it may be locked cause the track to moveupon its rollersf24 until the container is fully receivedwithin by suit-ablemeans' and t-he vehicle may then be driven to the desired destination ot the container. 1

For preventing tilting of the vehicle when the weight of the container is carried by the extended track, as shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle is provided with end supporting members 30 which are telescopic, the arrangement being such that the ground-engaging portion 31 ofthem may be received within the. upper portion to permit the support to be swung vertically with the vehicle;

The vehiclefurt-her preferably includes stirrups 32 secured to the under side thereof and adapted to support a horizontally slidable bar 33. At one end of this bar 33 a slot 33 is provided forming a pair of spaced members between whiclnfat their ends, a ground engaging element 34 is pivoted. In F ig: 3 a portion of the bar 33 has been broken away to clearly show this slot 33 and which slot is of suflicient size to permit the ground engaging element 34 to be swung on its pivot; and-housed horizontally within the confines of the bar 33, the. arrangementbeing such that when notin use the element 34 may be raised so as to be housed within the bar 33 and the whole then moved horizontally} and inwardly under the vehicle tobe supported in collapsed position bythe stirrups 32. 1

When it is .desired to unload the container,

the side supportsare swung to ground-engaging position, thus insuringthevehicle against tilting, and the container is rolled outwardly on the tracks. When the. container rollers 26 strike the outward stop 35 of the track 25,

the track will be moved outwardly from its 2 rollers, 24 to the desired position. and with the container-[thus supported by the vehicle over a receiving platform, the operating shaftr20 is rotated to move downwardly the track carrying-plate whereupon the container is lowered upon the platform and the track is therefore further lowered. to release the stop 35 from the roller 26, ,After release, thetrack is moved inwardly to be. received within the vehicle and the side supports are folded, wherebythe vehicle is ready for further travel.

For retaining the tracks in proper aline- .ment with their rollers during the outward sjup'portof the retainer, a pair of pivoted track supporting 7 elements 36. isfprovided whichare movable at an angle with respect to thevehicleto' underliethe tracks when they are in extended position and to provide an-ezcternal'siipport for the underside of thetracks- ,Thus as indicated in Fig. 0, they assist in 'supporting'the tracks to prevent the load carried by the end thereof to disturb the tracks and to relieve the rollers 24 of a portion ofthe strain which would normally be directed'to them. l

Referring more particularly to Fig; .4, it will be seen that the present deviceis adapted for use in'connection with rail cars in which instance the rail ca-rs may be centrally divided, each rail car being adapted to receive and handle two or more of the containers. The track structure, track carrying plate, the

posts, and side supports, as well as the track supports,are all provided, asindicated by similar numbers in Fig. 4, to those used in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. It will be understood that this form of the invention is not confined to any specific number of the container handling means, but the car may be divided to provide any requisite number.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the presentim'en ion provides a novel,

' simple and improved structure for the hanther be seenthat the present invention is not dling of merchandise without requiring packing and unpacking intermediate the shipping point and destination. It will furconfined to the specific structural details herein presented but that numerous changes, modifications andthe full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scopeof the present invention as outlined in the appended claims.

In the use of the present invention on rail cars, it will be seen that the receptacles are interchangeable so that after shipment of a car including two receptacles to a certain point, the receptacles may thereafter be sepe arately routed without requiringthe usual unpacking -.ofthe car, The receptacleis simply taken from onecar and placed upon i tainer-to be moved on said tracks into and out of said vehicle.-

2. A freight handling apparatus, including a'v'ehicle, a plurality of sliding tracks ;car-' ried by said vehicle for engaging rollers carried by a container-to permit said container to be moved on said tracks into and out of said vehicle, and means for vertically moving said tracks to engage or disengage the rollers of said container.

3. A freight handling apparatus, include I ing a vehicle, a plurality of sliding tracks carried by said vehicle for engaging rollers .carried'by a container to permit said containerto be moved on said tracks into and out of said vehicle, and means forvertically ing a vehicle, a plurality of sliding tracks car:

ried by said vehicle for engaging rollers car ried by a container to permit said-container V ing co-operating against tilting. 'moving said tracks to engage or disengage the rollers of said container, said means ineluding a movable track carrying plate associated'with said vehicle. a I V 4; A freight handling apparatusincludto be moved on said tracks into and out of said A vehicle, and means for vertically moving said tracks to engage or disengage therollers of saidcontainer, said means including-a mov able track carrying plate associated with said vehicle, together with rotatable corner posts upon which said plate is movably mounted.

5..A freight handling apparatus, including a vehicle, a plurality of: sliding tracks carried by said vehicle for engaging rollers carried by a container. to permit said container to be moved on said tracks into and out of said vehicle, and means for vertically moving said tracks to engage or disengage the rollers of said container, said meansincluding a movable track carrying plate associated with said vehicle, together with rotatable corner posts upon which said plate is movably' mounted, said corner posts andplate includ ing co-operating threaded portions whereby rotation of said posts will vertically move said'plate. I i

6. A freight handling apparatus, including a vehicle, a plurality of sliding tracks carried by said vehiclezfor engaging rollers carried by a container to permit. said container to be moved on said tracks into and out of said vehicle, means for vertically moving said tracks to engage or disengage the rollers of said container, said means including a movable track carrying plate associated with said vehicle, together with rotatable corner posts upon which said plate is movably mounted, said corner posts and plate including co-operating threaded portions whereby rotation of said posts will vertically move said plate, and

'means on said vehicle for simultaneouslyoperating said posts in unison] 7. A freight handling apparatus, including a vehicle, a plurality ofsliding tracks carried bysaid vehicle for engaging'rollers carried by a container to permit said contamer to be moved on sald tracks into'and out of said vehicle, means for vertically moving said tracks to engage or disengage the rollers of said container, said means includ ing a movabletrack carrying plate associated with said vehicle, together with rotatble cor-' i ner posts upon'which said plate is movably threaded portions whereby mounted, said corner posts and plate includrotation' of saidposts will vertically move said plate, and means on said vehicle for' s multaneously operating said posts inunison,said vehicle including foldable side supporting means for retaining said vehicle JAMES F. Moenvnnssf HARRY GAHILL. 

